The first edition of Invincible Fest started off with the worst auspiciousness. Initially scheduled in the open space of the Eur Social Park, it was supposed to represent the general rehearsals for the Roman summer of 2026 now upon us. And instead, due to adverse weather forecasts, the four-day event (from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th May) was moved 48 hours before the start to the indoor space of the Hacienda, Tiburtino district, which had already hosted events by the same organization in the past. Quick chat on social media, a few phone calls to friends and acquaintances, and the situation is safe, albeit in an area with reduced capacity, which is however able to preserve the intimate atmosphere of the live club. A decisive atmosphere especially on the first day of the Festival, Thursday 14 May, dedicated to rock-based sounds. At 8pm sharp the gates open, great curiosity for the new Capitoline event, a beer, a chat, someone immediately crowds into the barrier, someone else relaxes in the deckchairs placed outside, after three quarters of an hour and Ultraglass officially inaugurate the 2026 edition of Invincible Fest, with their sounds that very often closely resemble the new-new-wave of Interpol. Ultraglass present some songs from their 2024 album, “Crystal Soft Black”, closing with an unreleased song that serves as a forerunner for the next album.
It's the right appetizer to warm up the audience before the set of the Gurriers, an Irish band formed during the pandemic and established itself in the wake of the success achieved by Fontaines DC, Murder Capital and the many bands from the Dublin area that have characterized the recent post-punk reflux. The songs contained in the debut “Come And See” gave hope for a bright future, often recalling both Fontaines DC themselves (“Nausea” moves on the same coordinates as “Hurricane Laughter”) and Idles. In the live transposition the boys do not lose a crumb of their determination, even previewing some tracks that will be contained in their second album, “Nobody's Coming To See You”, scheduled for release on September 25th.
The most anticipated protagonists of the first evening, however, are the Maruja, from Manchestera highly politicized and openly pro-Palestine formation. On stage they show off the best of what they have recorded so far, starting with the songs contained in “Pain To Power”. Following in the wake of the much more talked about Kneecap, Maruja present themselves with a singular formation: rhythm section, voice and saxophone, with the guitar rarely appearing slung over the shoulder. frontman Harry Wilkinson. A crossovers (dipped in a very personal form of hardcore-jazz) which recalls both Rage Against The Machine and the much younger Turnstile, with the audience surprisingly memorizing most of the song lyrics. Between Palestinian flags, spectators shouting every single slogan and the band holding the stage in a spectacular way, the show ends with the right fist in the air, not only for the band but for the entire Hacienda audience.
After such an intense first evening it would be difficult to do better, but the organization of Invincible Fest managed to design a series of completely different situations, strongly characterizing every single day. The second, that of Friday 15 May, was marked by pouring rain; the dire predictions were therefore correct, but never mind, everything happens indoors. The stylistic scenario of reference changes radically: space for the electronics of Natascha Polké, on stage accompanied only by her own synths, and by the highly acclaimed dj set of the legendary Royksopp. Guitars also return in the middle, with Kerala Dust. We then dance until almost morning with the set signed Bluemarina. Saturday is even more dedicated to electronic music, with the performance of Modeselektor, perhaps the leading name of the entire Festival, a signature that is a guarantee of quality. Before them on stage the Dutch Weval, while to close the evening they provide console Phenoalthea and Camoufly.
But that's not all, there is also a more relaxed Sunday queue, starring Karaoke Indie, Frà Sorrentino, Il Solito Dandy and Dutch Nazari. An undoubtedly successful experience, that of Invincible Fest, which will confirm its presence in the coming months through a series of targeted events, in order to permeate the entire year with its brand.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
